June 2008

Paul Tang, M.D., an internist and vice president and chief medical information officer at PAMF, is known both locally and nationally as a leader in using information technology, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and personal health records (PHRs), to improve patient care. In recognition of his innovative work in this area, and his leadership roles on a number of national committees related to health information technology and policy, Dr. Tang was recently elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) – one of the nation’s highest honors in the fields of medicine and health.

IOM is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to provide national advice on a broad range of health-policy issues. Members are elected through a highly selective process based on their professional achievements and contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health.

Dr. Tang, who recently was selected as one of the "Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare for 2008" and one of the "50 Most Powerful Physician Executives in 2008" by Modern Healthcare and Modern Physician magazines, has served on numerous IOM and National Academy of Sciences committees. He has chaired two studies that made recommendations on the use of EHR systems to improve patient safety and quality nationwide. He also serves on the IOM’s Health Care Services Board and is a member of a committee that just released recommendations about changes needed in the U.S. health care workforce in order to care for an aging population.

“I didn’t plan my career,” he said. “My goal was always just to make a difference in health care. I just want to make it better for patients.”

Under Dr. Tang’s leadership, PAMF became an early adopter of an EHR system in 1999. He is also responsible for PAMF’s personal health record system, PAMFOnline, which was the first installation of MyChart (a product that PAMF co-developed with Epic Systems) in the country. Currently, about half of PAMF’s primary care patients use PAMFOnline to access their medical record and communicate with their PAMF doctors. Some say it’s transforming the way health care is delivered.

“PAMF is blessed with a highly motivated and dedicated team working towards this vision. It’s incredibly rewarding to the team to watch how this technology helps patients take a more active role in their health,” Dr. Tang said. "That’s what brings me to work every day!”